Lucas Tepman is considered a privileged For something that many do not recognize: he studied Political Science in the UBA that was a springboard to win the Fulbright scholarship in the United States. Apart from his hours as a consultant at the time of Mauricio Macri, he arrived in San Francisco, promoted him to other activities in that land where the start up multiply.
With the scholarship he dedicated himself to a Master in Sustainable Economic Development At the University of California, in Berkeley. Thus he discovered the paddle, a sport that according to the legend originated in the Mexican beaches of Acapulco in the 60s. It is a sport that is played in pairs, similar to tennis, but with other rules.
In the US, I had no competition and the opportunity was born. He got to work with his partner, the Mechanical Engineer, Matías Gandulfo and updated the courts that are cement here. But there they have special walls of a flexible and unbreakable glass and the floor is special: it allows the rebound of the players and avoids the consequences of falls.
These entrepreneurs have hopes, when discovering an activity “Easy to learn and dominate”Tepman tells Clarion. Of course, the business is not only the courts but the paddle clubs that allow generating contact networks and friendships among their partners, something highly valued in the northern country.
In the first round of investment, Tamar Capital participated, based in London, an Argentine “family office” whose name cannot reveal and EEP Capital. They added US $ 3 million at the start of a business with a succulent return rate of 35%.
They count seven padel clubs and plan to reach 30 in a short time. They have the back of David Nalbandian that helps them in the promotion. Also, the tennis player Marcel Felder, recognized as the “First Uruguay rack” and Guga Vázquez, a paddle player from Argentina, champion of the last international tournament. By the way, the paddle is already a sport that is winning fans among celebrities such as David Beckham, Serena Williams y Lionel Messi.
The clubs, which opened in 2023, work under the Bay Padel brand. The first is located in a Hangar from World War II In Treasure Island. And given the height of its roofs, the place was also chosen as the stage of the US Padel Association tournament. They also achieved an alliance with Google And another club was located in Palo Alto, the headquarters of the search engine leader.
The imitation effect, which in the US is known as Me Too, is making the paddle for fastest growing sport and “they even opened specific risk capital funds. People want another racket sport and are open to try new things, ”Tepman is excited that has among their plans to take clubs to Canada.